How to IMPROVE your job application for Germany

Summary

In this video, Jen and Ivon from simple gy.com discuss common pitfalls international job seekers encounter in Germany. They highlight three main errors: using a non-German style CV, neglecting to tailor applications to job ads, and not customizing CVs for specific positions. The hosts stress the importance of understanding German CV standards, showing attention to detail, and aligning one's profile with company values to increase the chances of securing a job interview.

Takeaways

• 📄 The first common mistake international job seekers make in Germany is using a non-German style CV, which can be too crowded and not aligned with German expectations.
• 🔍 German CVs prioritize a clear layout where information is easily scannable, which is crucial as recruiters often have only 60 seconds to review each CV.
• 🌐 Understanding and reflecting German culture in your CV is important as it shows your adaptability and potential fit within the company.
• 🎯 The second mistake is not tailoring the CV and cover letter to the specific job ad, which can demonstrate a lack of attention to detail and interest in the role.
• 📧 It's important to follow the application instructions in the job ad, such as addressing the correct person or using a specific email address provided.
• 🔑 Tailoring your CV to the job ad involves emphasizing relevant skills and experiences that align with the company's values and requirements.
• 🚫 Sending a cover letter when the job ad explicitly states not to, or failing to send one when it's required, can be a deal-breaker for German recruiters.
• 💡 The profile statement in your CV should be adapted to reflect the job ad's requirements, showcasing your understanding of the company's needs.
• ✅ A targeted application strategy, where you adjust your CV for each job ad, is more effective than a blanket approach.
• 🔄 The video emphasizes the importance of effort in job applications, suggesting that more targeted and tailored applications can lead to better results.

Q & A

What are the three most common mistakes internationals make when applying for jobs in Germany?

The three most common mistakes are: 1) Not using a German-style CV, 2) Not analyzing the job ad before applying, and 3) Not adapting their CV to the specific job they are applying to.

Why is it important to use a German-style CV when applying for jobs in Germany?

A German-style CV is important because it is less crowded with text, follows a layout that recruiters and hiring managers are familiar with, and shows an understanding of German culture and expectations.

What should be the first step when preparing a CV for a job application in Germany?

The first step should be to adapt your CV to a German style, ensuring it is not crowded with text and follows the expected layout.

How does a German-style CV make it easier for recruiters to scan and understand crucial information?

A German-style CV allows information to 'breathe', making it easier for recruiters to quickly identify key details such as skills and experience, as it follows a familiar and expected format.

Why is it a mistake to send a generic CV without tailoring it to the job ad?

Sending a generic CV is a mistake because it shows a lack of effort and attention to detail. It also fails to demonstrate an understanding of the company culture and specific requirements mentioned in the job ad.

What should job seekers do after adapting their CV to a German style?

After adapting their CV to a German style, job seekers should analyze the job ad and tailor their CV to emphasize how they meet the specific requirements and values of the company.

How can job seekers show they have read and understood the job ad in their application?

Job seekers can show they have read and understood the job ad by using specific details from the ad in their cover letter, such as addressing the correct person or department, and highlighting how their skills align with the company's values.

What is the significance of the profile statement in a CV when applying for jobs in Germany?

The profile statement is significant because it provides an opportunity to showcase an understanding of the company's values and requirements, and to tailor the introduction to align with the specific job being applied for.

Why is it crucial to adjust the CV to the specific job, even after adapting it to a German style?

Adjusting the CV to the specific job ensures that the application is targeted and relevant, increasing the chances of standing out among other applicants and demonstrating a genuine interest in the position.

What is the 'AAA+' framework mentioned in the script, and how can it help internationals applying for jobs in Germany?

The 'AAA+' framework is a method created by Simple Gy.com to enhance job applications of internationals in Germany. It guides applicants through the process of creating a tailored and effective CV and cover letter, increasing their chances of success in the job market.

Outlines

00:00

📄 Understanding Common Job Application Mistakes in Germany

The first paragraph introduces a video discussing common mistakes international job seekers make in Germany. The hosts, Jen from Guatemala and Ivon from Germany, emphasize the importance of using a German-style CV. They explain that foreign CVs often contain too much information and are not laid out in a way that German recruiters are accustomed to. The German style is preferred because it is less crowded and allows for easier scanning of crucial information within a short time frame. The hosts also touch on the cultural aspect, suggesting that a non-German CV might indicate a lack of understanding of German work culture, which could affect the candidate's chances of fitting into a team.

05:01

🎯 Tailoring Applications to Job Ads in Germany

The second paragraph delves into the second common mistake made by international applicants: not analyzing job ads before applying. The hosts stress the importance of reading job ads carefully, as they contain specific instructions and details that can guide applicants in crafting targeted cover letters. They provide examples of how failing to personalize applications can lead to immediate rejection. The paragraph also discusses the need to align one's CV with the job ad, emphasizing relevant experiences and values that match the company's culture and requirements. The hosts suggest that adjusting applications to be more targeted can significantly improve an applicant's chances of success.

10:01

🚀 Fast-Tracking Your Job Search in Germany

The third paragraph offers a brief call to action for viewers to check out a course that can help fast-track their job search in Germany. While it is shorter and less detailed than the previous paragraphs, it serves as a reminder of the resources available to job seekers and encourages them to take advantage of the information provided in the video and the linked course.

Keywords

💡German style CV

A 'German style CV' refers to a resume format that adheres to the conventions and expectations prevalent in Germany. It is typically less cluttered compared to other international styles, with a focus on clarity and conciseness. In the video, the importance of using a German style CV is emphasized because it aligns with the expectations of German recruiters and hiring managers, making it easier for them to quickly scan and identify relevant information. The video suggests that a German style CV is less likely to be overlooked due to its familiarity and ease of use for German professionals.

💡Internationals

The term 'Internationals' in the video refers to non-German job applicants or those from different cultural backgrounds seeking employment in Germany. The video addresses common mistakes made by this group when applying for jobs, highlighting the need for cultural adaptation in job applications. The script uses 'Internationals' to emphasize the unique challenges faced by individuals who are not familiar with the local job market and cultural norms, such as the preference for a German style CV.

💡Job ad analysis

Job ad analysis involves carefully reading and understanding the details of a job advertisement to tailor an application accordingly. The video stresses the importance of this step, as it allows applicants to align their CV and cover letter with the specific requirements and values mentioned in the job ad. For instance, the video mentions that job ads often provide crucial information such as the name of the person to contact or the company culture, which should be reflected in the application to demonstrate attention to detail and genuine interest.

💡CV content

CV content refers to the information and experiences listed on a resume. The video emphasizes that while the format of a German style CV is important, the actual content is what will ultimately determine if an applicant is considered for a job. It suggests that applicants should ensure their CV content is relevant, concise, and tailored to the job they are applying for, avoiding generic statements and ensuring that their skills and experiences match the job requirements.

💡Recruiters and hiring managers

Recruiters and hiring managers are the professionals responsible for screening job applications and selecting candidates for interviews. In the context of the video, these individuals are portrayed as having a limited time to review each CV, often within 60 seconds, to decide whether to consider an applicant further. The video advises applicants to structure their CV in a way that makes it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify key information, thus increasing their chances of being shortlisted.

💡Company culture

Company culture refers to the values, beliefs, and practices that characterize a company's environment. The video highlights the significance of understanding and demonstrating an alignment with the company culture in a job application. It suggests that applicants should research the company and incorporate aspects of its culture into their CV and cover letter to show that they would be a good fit for the organization. For example, if a job ad mentions a 'founder's mentality' as a desired trait, applicants should highlight relevant experiences that demonstrate this quality.

💡Profile statement

A profile statement is a brief summary at the beginning of a CV that outlines an applicant's professional identity and career objectives. The video advises tailoring the profile statement to reflect the specific job requirements and company values mentioned in the job ad. This personalized approach can help an applicant stand out by showing that they have a clear understanding of what the company is looking for and how they can contribute to its goals.

💡Application adaptation

Application adaptation refers to the process of customizing a job application to match the specific requirements and preferences of the job and company. The video stresses the importance of not only using a German style CV but also adjusting its content to the particular job being applied for. This includes emphasizing relevant skills, experiences, and understanding of the company's mission and culture, as demonstrated by the example of a devops professional applying for a web developer role.

💡Get hired in Germany

This phrase is used in the video to refer to the ultimate goal of job applicants, which is to secure employment in Germany. It is also the name of the online course mentioned by the video creators, which aims to empower internationals to settle into life in Germany more smoothly. The course is said to provide strategies, examples, and guidance on how to improve job applications and increase the chances of being hired, aligning with the video's theme of overcoming common mistakes in the German job application process.

💡Effort and output

The concept of 'effort and output' in the video suggests a direct correlation between the amount of effort put into a job application and the potential success of that application. The video encourages applicants to invest time and effort in understanding the job requirements, tailoring their CV and cover letter, and demonstrating a genuine interest in the company. This proactive approach is portrayed as essential for overcoming rejection and increasing the likelihood of being considered for a job in Germany.

Highlights

International job seekers in Germany often make common mistakes that lead to rejection.

The first mistake is not using a German-style CV, which should be less text-heavy and follow a specific layout.

German CVs are expected to have a clear layout with information in predictable areas.

Recruiters and hiring managers scan CVs quickly, often within 60 seconds, to decide if they should proceed.

Understanding German culture and how it reflects in a CV is crucial for job applications.

A German-style CV not only follows a specific format but also helps convey an understanding of German work culture.

The content of a CV is as important as its style for getting considered for a job.

Many applicants send generic CVs without tailoring them to specific job ads.

Job ads in Germany are detailed and provide crucial information for directing applications.

Tailoring a CV to a specific job ad shows attention to detail and understanding of the company culture.

Not adapting a CV to the job requirements is a common mistake that leads to rejection.

The profile statement in a CV should be adjusted to reflect the company's values and requirements.

Laziness in not adjusting a CV to a specific job can lead to missed opportunities.

The effort put into a job application correlates with the success and results achieved.

The video provides insights from interviews with in-house recruiters, hiring managers, and CTOs in Germany.

The 'Get Hired in Germany' course offers a framework to enhance job applications for Internationals.

The course includes examples and videos showing how to create a CV that meets German standards.

Transcripts

have you been applying to jobs in

Germany that match your skills but

you're still getting rejected you might

be making one of the three most common

mistakes Internationals make when

searching for a job in Germany in this

video we're going to talk about the

three most common mistakes and how you

can avoid them hey my name is Jen and

I'm from Guatemala and mine is Ivon and

I'm German and together we're from

simple gy.com where we create English

content to empower Internationals to

settle into life in Germany more

[Music]

smoothly while doing the rese search for

our online course get hired in Germany

we spoke to various Specialists such as

in-house recruiters hiring managers and

CTO of companies in Germany we wanted to

understand firsthand what it takes for a

candidate to stand out and actually get

considered to join the company yes and

in this interviews three recurring

themes kept on happening and these are

the three most common mistakes

Internationals do when searching for a

job in Germany number one is that

candidates do not use a German style CV

to apply for jobs now what is the big

deal about this Ivon I'd say there's two

big deals about this one it's usually

foreign CVS are just jam-packed with

information and they're too crowded I

mean I have seen so many foreign CVS

that it's just I feel like I'm like

getting a wall in my face of text that

is the number one because German cves

are not crowded with text second is the

layout recruiters hiring managers it

doesn't matter who scan your CV at first

before actually deciding whether they

should read it or not and during that

scanning process we as Germans are used

to seeing certain information in certain

areas if you follow a German style of a

format you fulfill those expectations if

it is some other format for example even

the europ pass don't use the europ pass

that is not applicable for Germany I

have no idea where to look to find

information that I want to know to

decide will I continue with you or not

yes and also everyone agreed that they

have a limited amount of time to scan

the CV because let's face it people

reading the CV they also have a

full-time job and their full-time job is

not reading CVS so they have to like

it's finding candidates right but they

have so many applications that everyone

says look I have a maximum of 60 seconds

to scan the CV to even try to think do I

consider this candidate for the next

round or not and if your CV is not

matching the standard it's not making

easy for them to understand the crucial

information about your skills then most

likely you're going to be sent in the

denied or disqualified pile I would even

add like a third layer to that to be

honest not that I think back of the

conversations that we had because what

you just said I agree with a hiring

manager it's not their full-time job to

look at CVS however an an HR or

recruiter it is their full-time job to

look at CVS and they might be getting

hundreds of CVS per day so in this case

really the scan happens and with the

scan another aspect gets conscious or

subconsciously ticked and that is

whether you have an understanding of the

German culture and how Germany taks

because if you already cannot convey

that you have this understanding in your

CV most likely you will not have it in

your um work ethic and in your attitude

either and then you don't match the team

and then you're already out yeah

definitely and I would say German style

CV is not just because of the style the

style is definitely um a big part of it

but creating it in a German style CV it

forces you in a way to this kind of like

framework of what is expected from your

CV right like you said the information

can breathe people can actually read

because there's CVS like you already

mentioned that either have too much

information or have too many colors and

icons which are not relevant and don't

show any information right and even a

big mistake a lot of people also do is

that because they want it to look very

designery and nice they put all their

skills with these like bubbles and then

how do you know what that actually means

right like you need brain power to try

to understand what things so it doesn't

make it easy for the person reading it

right but anyway we have we're ranting

about the German CCV because it's super

important very passionate about it yes

yes and we emphasize that the German

style CV is important however just using

the style is not enough content the

content that your CV has is at the end

of the day what's also going to get you

considered to be invited for a first get

to know you call to even see if you

would go to the next round of interviews

or not couldn't agree more in all of the

CV reviews we've done over the past

month and years this is probably one of

the biggest stripping wires because

people just take our format put their

content in there that they have previous

viously and think that's going to work

but whenever we review those there are

so many areas of improvement which we

touch in detail and also give examples

and over the shoulder videos in the

course get hired in Germany yes now

let's go to number two and the mistake

second mistake that a lot of

Internationals make is that they don't

analyze the job ad before applying so

also in CV reviews that we've done we

see how an applicant has pretty much

done a general C and then they start

like like shooting everywhere and

sending it wherever they see a job ad

that might probably fulfill their that

they think that they fulfill their

requirements or not no bueno big mistake

I am guilty of this because in the past

I think in a video I said apply apply

apply apply apply which is true but

apply apply apply apply targeted yes I

should have said targeted apply targeted

apply targeted apply which is a

different strategy right just to give

you two examples of what we mean by this

the job ads are very very detailed by

most companies I would say at least 80%

of the ones that we've looked at and we

have look at hundreds of job ads and

what I mean with detail is that a very

typical error is that at the bottom at

the end of the job ad it usually states

where to direct your application it

sometimes says an exact name it

sometimes gives even an email address if

you have questions or it's sometimes

links to even the About Us website on

the homepage where you can find more

information

and this is crucial information that the

company's giving you here so when you

craft your cover letter this is the time

to shine and show that you have read the

job ad take the name from the job ad and

say dear close dear Stefan Dear Mister

so and so depending on again what the

job at is portraying is the company

culture we have seen again so many

applications in our reviews where this

is clearly stated in the job B and then

the cover letter starts with to whom

main concern no and you know what my

first reaction when I have to call with

the applicant is like

seriously like really because this is it

doesn't matter how skilled you are

doesn't matter how experienced you are

this is a no immediately like absolutely

immediately me as a German I would not

continue whatsoever because you don't

put in the effort you don't care you

don't have attention to detail yes or

even worse maybe the whole application

says do not send a cover letter and what

is attached in the application cover

letter so it is important to actually

take the time to read the job ad I had

another example where I was reviewing a

CV and this person had actually they had

founded a company so they had a Founders

mentality and one of the values in the

job ad was like we're looking for people

with Founders mentality and I asked like

why haven't you linked your for example

experience to that oh I never realized

that that was one of the values of the

company and it was right there in the

job ad without clicking more of the

about us and stuff like that so

definitely take the time to read the job

ad and analyze it to see what

requirements you have and most

importantly this step will help you with

the third mistake that actually is most

common for Internationals when applying

to jobs and that is that they do not

adapt their CV to the job that they're

applying to correct our approach is to

First adapt your CV to a German style as

we mentioned before second approach

after you have read the job ad is to

still adjust that CV again to the

specific position by emphasizing that

you understand the company culture you

understand the company Mission you know

who to direct the application to etc etc

etc definitely one of the places where

it's actually key even to adjust your

application to the job ad is the profile

statement because there you have room to

play right so what are the values what

are the requirements the company is

looking from you add that in your in

your like introduction paragraph another

example of this is that once we reviewed

a CV where the person had a lot of

experience as a devops actually that was

their current role and they were

applying for a web developer job which

is amazing I mean yeah Kudos and when I

evaluate evaluated their survey or I

read through it I'm like but I don't see

any experience as a web developer so I

asked them do you have any experience as

a web developer oh yeah I have plenty of

experience as a web developer and we

talked about it a little bit and at the

end of the day I asked like why didn't

you add that experience cuz you're

applying to a web developer job Rule and

to be honest I think the last the very

honest answer is that they were being

lazy you know like not adjusting the CV

is simply being lazy and not targeting

your application just thinking that by

creating a general CV and just applying

applying applying you're going to get

the dream job that you want knock on

your door again input equals output so

the more effort you put in hopefully

ideally the more output you can expect

right like better uh success and uh

results that you can expect from your

applications these three common mistakes

are the ones that Internationals

constantly make when finding a job in

Germany if you've been facing rejection

reject rejection evaluate whether you've

been doing any one of these mistakes and

adjust your either attitude or

application to fix these mistakes and

I'm pretty sure you will succeed we dive

deep into these three topics and a lot

more in our course get hired in Germany

we also show you with examples and over

the over the shoulder videos we actually

create a CV for myself that I can

successfully apply for jobs in Germany

by using our AA A+ framework which is a

framework that we have created which we

totally have the confidence will enhance

job applications of Internationals in

Germany if you would like to FastTrack

your job search in Germany then make

sure to check the link in the

description below until next time cheers